Rory D.Lyons

Partner

Atlanta + 1.404.581.8550

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Rory Lyons has more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of executive compensation affecting public and private companies. Rory advises senior executives and boards of directors on employment and change-in-control agreements, the design and implementation of stock and incentive plans, and benefit and compensation issues raised in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and other changes in capital structure. Rory's practice also includes a wide range of general business tax matters, including advising publicly held and privately held corporations on the tax aspects of acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, joint ventures, and other major corporate transactions. Rory coordinates the tax and employee benefit activities for Jones Day's Atlanta Office and acts as one of the leaders for Jones Day's Firmwide Executive Compensation Practice.

Rory's recent transactions include Reynolds American's acquisition by British American Tobacco Plc in a transaction valued at $49 billion; Newell Brands' acquisition of Jarden Corporation for $16 billion; The Southern Company's acquisition of AGL Resources for $12 billion; Exelis' acquisition by Harris Corporation for $4.8 billion; and the proposed $38 billion merger-of-equals involving PotashCorp and Agrium.

Rory also is a frequent writer on executive compensation issues, such as the Section 409A rules regulating deferred compensation, the $1 million cap on executive pay, and the tax penalties imposed on golden parachute payments.

Experience

  • Roper Technologies acquires Procare SolutionsJones Day advised Roper Technologies, Inc. in the $1.86 billion acquisition of Procare Solutions, a leading provider of cloud-based software for the management of early childhood education centers.
  • Saint Luke's Health System of Kansas City merges with BJC HealthCareJones Day advised Saint Luke's Health System of Kansas City in its merger with BJC HealthCare.
  • restor3d acquires Conformis, Inc.Jones Day advised restor3d, Inc., a leading personalized 3D-printed orthopedic company, on its acquisition of Conformis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CFMS), a leading medical technology company focused on orthopedic patient care.
  • Roper Technologies subsidiary acquires business of RepliconJones Day advised Roper Technologies, Inc. in the acquisition by subsidiary Deltek, the leading global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, of the business of Replicon, Inc., a provider of unified time tracking solutions that bring together Project Delivery, Finance, and HR on a single platform, purpose-built for project and services-centric organizations.
  • Diebold Nixdorf successfully restructures over $2.7 billion in funded debt and completes the first-ever dual proceeding under the U.S. bankruptcy code and Dutch restructuring law in 71 daysIn the first-ever cross border restructuring involving dual main proceedings under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and a scheme of arrangement (the "Dutch Scheme") under the Dutch Act on Confirmation of Extrajudicial Plans (Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord ("WHOA")), and the first-ever chapter 15 recognition of Dutch Scheme proceedings and a sanctioned WHOA reorganization plan (the "WHOA Plan"), Jones Day represented Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated ("Diebold") and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (the "Debtors") in connection with (i) the prepackaged chapter 11 cases of In re Diebold Holding Company, LLC, et al., (Case No. 23-90602-DRJ) commenced on June 1, 2023, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the "Bankruptcy Court"); (ii) the Dutch Scheme, commenced on June 1, 2023 by Diebold Nixdorf Dutch Holding B.V. (the "Dutch Issuer") in the District Court of Amsterdam (the "Dutch Court"), and (iii) the chapter 15 proceedings before the Bankruptcy Court commenced by the foreign representative of the Dutch Issuer, wherein the Bankruptcy Court recognized the Dutch Scheme proceeding as a foreign main proceeding and recognized and extended comity to the WHOA Plan that was sanctioned by the Dutch Court.
  • Cardinal Health merges its Outcomes™ business into Transaction Data SystemsJones Day advised Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) in connection with the combination of its Outcomes™ business to Transaction Data Systems, a portfolio company of BlackRock Long Term Private Capital and GTCR, in exchange for a minority stake in the combined entity.
  • Evoqua merges with Xylem in $7.5 billion all-stock transactionJones Day advised Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE: AQUA) in its $7.5 billion stock-for-stock merger with Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL).
  • Flowers Foods acquires Papa Pita BakeryJones Day advised Flowers Foods, Inc. in its acquisition of Papa Pita Bakery, a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality bagels, tortillas, breads, buns, English muffins, and flat breads.
  • Roper Technologies sells majority stake in industrial businesses to Clayton Dubilier & Rice, LLC for $2.6 billionJones Day advised Roper Technologies, Inc. on the sale of a majority stake in its industrial businesses, including its entire Process Technologies segment and the industrial businesses within its Measurement & Analytical Solutions segment, to an affiliate of Clayton Dubilier & Rice, LLC, for $2.6 billion in cash and contingent consideration of up to $51 million.
  • Marubeni sells global grain business of Gavilon Agriculture InvestmentJones Day advised Marubeni Corporation in the sale of the global grain business of Gavilon Agriculture Investment, Inc. to Viterra Limited, following a reorganization of Gavilon’s structure.
  • BenefitMall sells company to Truist Insurance Holdings, Inc.Jones Day represented BenefitMall, a Carlyle portfolio company, in connection with the sale to CRC Insurance Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Truist Financial Corporation.
  • FEI partners with Nationwide Marketing GroupJones Day advised FEI Group in its strategic partnership and merger with Nationwide Marketing Group, the independent retail channel’s largest buying, marketing and business support organization, supporting more than 5,000 independently owned businesses across North America.
  • Centre Lane Partners portfolio company acquires Fiskars' North American watering businessJones Day advised Centre Lane Partners, LLC in connection with the acquisition and financing by its portfolio company Lawn & Garden, LLC of Fiskars Corporation's North American watering business including the Gilmour and Nelson brands.
  • Montauk Energy Holdings amends existing senior secured revolving credit and term loan facilityJones Day represented Montauk Energy Holdings, LLC, as borrower, and certain of its affiliates as guarantors, in connection with a fourth amendment and joinder to their existing senior secured revolving credit and term loan facility with Comerica Bank, as agent.
  • DMI secures strategic investment from OceanSound PartnersJones Day advised DMI in its strategic investment from an affiliate of OceanSound Partners, LP.
  • Sensata Technologies acquires Spear Power SystemsJones Day advised Sensata Technologies in its acquisition of Spear Power Systems, a leader in lithium-ion based energy storage solutions for mission-critical and demanding end user applications.
  • Axion BioSystems completes sale of company to Summa EquityJones Day advised Axion BioSystems, Inc., a leading provider of MEA and impedance technology for single-cell analysis, in its sale of the company to Summa Equity.
  • restor3d merges with Kinos MedicalJones Day advised restor3d, Inc. in its merger with Kinos Medical, a leading total ankle replacement company.
  • MedShape acquired by DJOJones Day advised MedShape, Inc., a privately held orthopedic medical device company founded in 2005, in connection with its acquisition by DJO, a subsidiary of Colfax Corporation.
  • PureCycle Technologies combines with Roth CH Acquisition I Co.Jones Day advised PureCycle Technologies LLC ("PureCycle") in its business combination with Roth CH Acquisition I Co. ("Roth SPAC"), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition corporation backed by Roth Capital Partners and Craig-Hallum Capital Group, and Roth CH Acquisition I Co. Parent Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Roth CH ("Holdings"), among others.
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    November 2022 White Paper

    SEC Adopts Final Dodd-Frank Act Clawback Rules: An A-to-Z Explanation

    January 2012 Commentary

    Tax Reporting Deadline Rapidly Approaching for Incentive Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Rights

    February 2010 Commentary

    IRS Releases Section 409A Documentary Correction Program

    November 2009 Commentary

    IRS Begins Section 409A Audits

    October 2009 Commentary

    Executive Compensation Tax Rules May Require Year-End Planning

    June 2009 Commentary

    TARP Compensation Guidance and Other Executive Compensation Proposals

    Additional Publications

    • June 2006
      Employment Agreements and Severance Arrangements – Section 409A’s Impact, The Corporate Compliance & Regulatory Newsletter

    Speaking Engagements

    • September 24-25, 20015
      Compensation-Related Tax Updates, Jones Day's 2015 Critical Updates in Executive Compensation and Benefits Symposium
    • June 2006
      Section 409A: New Tax Rules for Nonqualified Deferred Compensation, American Bar Association

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